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From the Archives 2012......SHC Kinvara v Craughwell

We don't have to travel too far back to find our most recent Senior Championship encounter with Sundays opponents Craughwell, as last May 2012 we met in the group stages.

This match proved a real "hit and miss" tie for Kinvara. We played superbly in the opening half, leading by 8 points at the interval (1-9 to 0-4), but really fell apart in the second half, as we were outscored 1-11 to 0-2 for the second period.

What looked promising in the opening half, turned sour by full time. A disappointing day for Kinvara that gave much promise.

Here we bring you the Connacht Tribune Match report from Friday 1st of June 2012...................................

In-form Healy bails Craughwell out of trouble

EOGHAN CORMICAN AT KENNY PARK

Craughwell 1-15 Kinvara 1-11

CRAUGHWELL – inspired by Niall Healy – produced a stunning second-half performance to reverse a seven point interval deficit in edging out Kinvara in this entertaining Group C clash at Kenny Park, Athenry on Saturday.

Jimmy Heverin’s charges appeared destined for defeat after falling eight points in arrears by the 34th minute, but when substitute Mark Horan earned a contentious free on the Kinvara ‘21, Healy stepped up to rifle home the sliotar and subsequently, Craughwell hurled with far greater urgency and purpose to eke out an unlikely four point victory.

The winners second half showing was far removed from a rudderless opening thirty in which Kinvara dominated exchanges between the 45’s, Ger Mahon and Alan Leech particularly effective in cutting out the supply of ball filtering into Craughwell’s inside line as well as providing a launch pad for several of their first half points.

Craughwell faced a telling breeze in that first half, but the elements can hardly be held to account for their lethargic endeavours with Niall Healy almost singlehandedly keeping his team in the game. Indeed, two Healy points approaching the interval were crucial in not only reducing the gap to seven, but ensuring the task of hauling back Kinvara’s lead was attainable.

Kinvara enjoyed a 1-9 to 0-5 advantage at the break, and it could have been more but for seven wides they registered in the first half. Though Healy stroked over the game’s opener inside two minutes, Craughwell failed to score again until the 16th minute by which juncture Kinvara were 1-4 to 0-2 to the good.

Upon the change of ends however, Niall Healy’s goal proved the perfect tonic to reignite Craughwell’s cause and in the remainder of the tie, incredibly, they outscored their rivals ten points to one.

Alan Callanan, Fergal Healy and two Healy placed ball efforts left only the minimum between the sides on 43 minutes. Added to this, the switch of Adrian Cullinane to centre-back had settled matters in the Craughwell defence, while going forward they carried far more potency with Callanan and Keelan Cullinane joining Healy in the scoring stakes.

Indeed, Craughwell can count themselves hugely unlucky not to have raised a second green flag after Colm Callanan saved a Keelan Cullinane drive, and but for the deftest of touches from fullback Brain Carroll, Alan Callanan was on-hand to finish the rebound.

Nevertheless, Callanan delivered the equaliser before Adrian Cullinane landed a rousing score from midway to edge Craughwell in front. Kinvara required a response, but it was Healy who extended Craughwell’s lead and when Shane Kavanagh dropped a short puck out, Callanan punished the error.

Substitute Tadhg Reynolds narrowed the deficit to two with Kinvara’s first score in twenty minutes, but Craughwell were in no mood to let victory slip from their grasp and, led by scorer-in-chief Niall Healy and the impressive Adrian Cullinane, they rendered Kinvara scoreless in the closing seven minutes while adding minors through Healy and Keelan Cullinane to emerge deserved winners.

Kinvara will be disappointed with how they faded in the second period, but they showed enough conviction in the first half to suggest they won’t go down without a fight against either Cashel or Portumna.

Craughwell, meanwhile, have much to ponder. Were it not for Niall Healy this one would have been done and dusted at half time. A second victory will more than likely see them advance to the knockout stages, but if they are to have any impact on this year’s championship their defence will need to undergo serious surgery, while in attack, the over-reliance on Healy to provide the bulk of their scores simply won’t cut it.